Apparatus for the control of steam-generators.



T. CLARKSON. APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROL OF STEAM GENERATORS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY-I7, 3914.

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T. CLARKSON.

APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROL OF STEAM GENERATORS. APPUCATION FILED IULY 17. 19M.

1,1 89,429. Patented July 4, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

T. CLARKSON.

APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROL OF STEAM GENERATORS.

APPLICATION FILLED JULY 17. I914.

Patented July 4, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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THOMAS CLARKSON, OF GALLEYWOOD, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL STEAM CAR COMPANY, LIMITED, OF CHELMSFORD, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROL OF STEAM-GENERATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1916.

Application filed July 17, 1914. Serial No. 851,539.

To all whom it 172 my concern:

Be it known that I. THOMAS CLARKSON, subject of the King of England, residing at Galleywood, Essex, in England, have invented certain new and useful Apparatus for'the Control of Steam-Generators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the control of steam generators more particularly those intended for use on motor road yehicles and heated by solid fuel and has for its object to regulate the supply of fuel to the grate and simultaneously control the supply of water to the generator.

According to this invention solid fuel preferably in the form of coke which is contained in one or more bunkers is caused to pass from the bottom of each bunker to the furnace by means of reciprocating pushrods or the like to which motion is imparted preferably from a steam-operated water pump the supply of steam to which is controlled, conveniently automatically in accordance with the variations of the water level in the generator. The supply of fuel to the grate is thus regulated simultaneously of the motor road vehicle showing a considerable portion of the mechanism comprised in the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the generator on the line 22 in Fig. 1 looking toward the front of the vehicle and drawn on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a part vertical section through the generator also on the line 22 in Fig. 1 but looking toward the rear of the vehicle so as to show parts of the mechanism by which motion is imparted from the pump to the push-rods and other features. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the float-operated automatic control device.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

The generator to which the presentinvention is preferably applied is of the vertical semi-flash type and is inclosed in a casing A, Outside this casing and on opposite sides thereof are arranged two bunkers B rod K of the pump K. carries loose upon it a ratchet wheel N and adapted to contain solid fuel which is pref erably coke graded to a suitable size. In the upper part of each bunker is a charging opening B provided with .a suitable closure and in the lower part -of the outer wall is an inspection opening B with hinged coven. The lower part of each bunker is formed as a chute B which leads past the lower edge A of the generator casing onto a dead plate C. The grate is formed of fixed and movable bars. Preferably two movable bars D are provided so mounted as to be capable of being rocked in some convenient manner as hereinafter described. The fixed 'firebars D are of some suitable construction and disposed between the rocking bars D and the dead plates C. The shape, disposition and construction of these fire-bars and dead plates may vary to meet require- "ments and the nature of the generator to which the invention is applied. An ashpan E is disposed beneath the grate. The generator is supported by suitable means on the side members F of the chassis.

In the .lower part 1350f the outer wall of each bunker is formed a series of holes B which holes. as is apparent from Fig. 1, are arranged in two horizontal rows, one row being slightly above the other. Through each of these holes freely passes a push-rod G. the outer end of which is pivotally connected to a lever H secured on a rockshaft J. This rockshaft is mounted in bearings on the chassis members F.

A steam-operated pump K of some suitable type is carried on a bracket from one ofthe chassis members F. This member also has mounted on it some convenient position intermediate between the pump K and the lever H onthe rockshaft. a bracket L which carries a stud L projecting horizontally at right angles to the axis of the rockshaft J. On this stud is freely pivoted a two-armed lever M M. The upper arm M carries a pawl M while the lower arm M is connected by a. rod M with the piston The stud L also an eccentric or crank N which is formed integral with the ratchet wheel. The pawl M engages the ratchet wheel'N so that this wheel and the eccentric are intermittently rotated as the lever M is oscillated by the operation of the pump. A pawl L carried by the stud L insures the rotation of the ratchet wheel being continuously in one direction.

The eccentric has a rod N the end of which is connected by a ball joint with the end of a lever J secured on the rockshaft J. Thus as the ratchet wheel and the eccentric rotate the shaft J is rocked through the lever J 2 and the push-rods G are reciprocated by means of the levers H.

To enable the push-rods G to be reciprocated and the pump operated by. hand on occasion, a two-armed lever O is mounted loosely on a pivot carried by a bracket disposed at some point between the pump and the bracket L. One end of this lever O is forked and engages a pin on the rod M while the upper end is shaped to receive a socket on the end of a detachable hand lever 0. By means of this lever the pump piston can be reciprocated and the lever M swung to and fro so that water can be fedinto the generator and at the same time the pushrods actuated.

It is obvious that by controlling the supply of steam to the pump K the operation of the push-rods G will be regulated simultaneously with the supply of water to the generator and thus the control of the fuel feed and water feed will be simultaneous. The supply of steam to the pump can be controlled by hand but preferably this control is automatic and effected by the variations in the level of the water in the generator. A device suitable for this purpose is shown in Fig. 1 on the rear side of the generator and is also illustrated on a larger scale in Fig. 4. This device comprises a cylindrical drum P which is in communication by a pipe P with the steam space of the generator and also communicates by a pipe P with the water space. \Vithin the drum P is a cylindrical float Q which is provided with pivot or gudgeon pins Q and Q One of these pins Q rests in a bearing in one of the end covers of the drum P but does not passthrough this cover but the other pin Q passes out through a stuffing box P and has secured on its outer end a two-armed lever B. One arm of this lever is formed as a handle while the other arm is connected by a link S to a lever T on the spindle of a screw down steam valve T disposed in the pipe U which supplies steam to the pump K. It will be apparent that as the level of the water in the generator rises or falls so will the movement (if the float Q operate the steam valve T through the levers R, T and link S and thus control the supply of steam to the pump. The handle on the lever B enables the float and other parts of the mechanism to be 0perated by hand when desired totest their free workingv or to control the pump under special circumstances.

The mechanism for rocking the fire-bars D may be as shown in Fig. 3. Connected to the end of each bar is a lever D these levers being connected by a link D One of these levers D is extended and provided with a handle D which as shown in Fig. 1 is disposed within reach of the driver who can thus rock the bars D from time to time. If desired the rocking can be effected automatically by providing one of the bars with a second lever D which is connected by a link D with a lever D on the rock-shaft The rocking of the bars will thus take place in consonance with the feeding of the fuel.

It is obvious that reciprocation of the push rods G can equally in accordance with this invention be eflected by mechanism other than that describedin detail above. Thus in place of the rock-shaft J with levers H the push rods G may be connected to a shaft provided with cranks or eccentrics the rotation of this shaft being effected from the pump by suitable mechanism. This mechanism may comprise bevel wheels on the crank shaft and a stud L respectively which will serve to convert the reciprocation to the pump into intermittent rotation of the crank shaft.

\Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to securegby Letters Patent is 1. In apparatus for the control of steam generators the combination of a generator having a grate for burning solid fuel, a bunker, a. plurality of push-rods each of which passes through a hole in the bunker wall in such position as to operate on the fuel lying in the lower part of the bunker for transferring the solid fuel from the bottom of the bunker on to the grate, a steam-operated feed pump for the generator, an operative connection between this pump and the push-rods, and means for automatically controlling the supply of steam to the pump in accordance with the variations of the level of the water in the generator.

2. In apparatus for the control of steam generators the combination with a generator having a grate for burning solid fuel, a bunker adjacent to the generator with a chute at its lower end leading on to the grate, a plurality of push-rods each of which passes freely through a hole in the bunker wall in such a position as to operate on the fuel lying in the lower part of the bunker and means for reciprocating the push-rods and imparting a rocking movement thereto.

3. In apparatus for the control of steam generators the combination with a generator having a grate for burning solid fuel,

abunker adjacent to the generator with a fuel lying in the lower part of the bunker, means for reciprocating the push-rods and means for automatically controlling the mechanism by which the push-rods are re- 5 ciprocated in accordance with the variations in the level of the water" in the generator asset forth.

4. In apparatus for the control of steam generators the combination with a generator having a grate for burning solid fuel, a bunker adjacent, to the generator with a chute at its lower end leading on to the grate, a plurality of push-rods each of which passes freely through a hole in the bunker wall in such a position as to operate on the fuel lying in the lower part of the bunker, a steam-operated feed pump for the generator, means actuated by the feed pump for reciprocating the push-rods and means for controlling the supply of steam to the pump in accordance with the variations in the level of the water in the generator.

5. In apparatus for the control of steam generators the combination with a generator having a grate for burning solid fuel, a bunker adjacent to the generator with a chute at its lower end leading on to the grate, rockable grate bars, a plurality of 80 push-rods each of which passes freely through'a hole in the bunker wallin such a position as to operate on the fuel lying in the lower part of the bunker, a steam-operated feed pump for the generator, means 85 actuated by the feed pump for simultaneously reciprocating the push-rods and rocking the grate bars and means for automatically controlling the supply of steam to the pump in accordance with the variations in 40 the level of the water-in the generator as set forth. T

6. In apparatus for the control ofv steam generators the combination of a generator having a grate forburning solid fuel, a

bunker adjacent to the generator with a chute at its lower end leading on to the grate, a rockshaft mounted in bearings outside the bunker wall, levers on this rockshaft, a push rod pivoted to the end of each lever and passing freely through a hole in the bunker wall in such a position as to 0perate on the fuel lyingin the lower part of the bunker, and means for rocking the rockshaft, as set forth.

7. In apparatus'for thecontrol of steam generators the combination of a enerator aving a grate for burning soli fuel, a bunker adjacent to the generator, with a chute at its lower end leading on to the grate,

60, a rockshaft mounted in bearings outside the bunker wall, levers on this rockshaft, a pushrod pivoted to the end of each lever and passing freely through a hole in the bunker wall in such a position as to operate on the 66 fuel lying in the lower part of the bunker,

means for rocking the rockshaft, and means automatically actuated for controlling the rocking mechanism as set forth.

.8. In apparatus for the control of steam generators the combination of a generator 70 having a grate for burning solid fuel, a bunker adjacent to the generator, with a chute at its lower end leading on tothe grate, a rockshaft mounted in bearings outside the bunker wall, levers on this rockshaft, a push-rod pivoted to the end of each lever and passing freely through a holein the bunker wall in such a position asto operate on the fuel lying in the lower part of the bunker, mechanism for rocking the rockshaft and means automatically actuated by the variations in the water level in the generator for controlling the rocking mechanism as set forth.

9. In apparatus for the control of steam 35 generators the combination of a generator having a grate for burning solid fuel,-a bunker adjacent to the generator with. a chute at its lower end leading on to the grate,

a rockshaft mounted in bearings outside the bunker wall, a plurality of push-rods each pivoted to the end of a lever on the rook shaft, a plurality of holes in the outer wall of the bunker each hole adapted for the free passage therethrough of a push-rod, a 5 steam ope'rated feed pump for the generator, means actuated by the feed pump for rocking the rockshaft, and means for con.- trolling the supply of steam to the pump as set forth.

lGr-In apparatus for the control of steam generatorsthe combination of a generator having a grate for burning solid fuel, a bunker adjacent to the generator terminating at its lower end in a chute leading on to the grate, a rockshaft mounted in bearings outside thebunker wall, a plur lity of push-rods each pivoted to the endof lever on the rockshaft and'each push-rod passing freely through a hole in the lower part of the outer .bunker wall, a steam-operated feed pump for the generator, a fixed stud on which freely pivots a lever carrying a pawl,

a ratchet wheel integral with an eccentric and both freely rotatable on the fixed stud, a connection between a moving part of the pump and the free end of the pivoted lever, means for imparting motion from the cocentric to the rockshaft, and means for controlling the supply of steam to the pump as set forth.

11. In apparatus for the control of steam generators the combination of a generator having a grate for burning solid fuel, a bunker adjacent to the generator terminating at its lower end in a chute leading on to the grate, a rockshaft'mounted in bearings outside the bunker wall, a plurality of push rods each pivoted to the end of a lever onthe rockshaft and each push-rod passing freely through a hole in the lower part of the outer bunker wall, a steam-operated feed pump for the generator, means actuated by the feed pump for rocking the rockshaft, and means for automatically controlling the supply of steam to the pump in accordance with the variations in the level of the water in the generator as set forth.

12. In apparatus for the control of steam generators the combination of a generator having a grate for burning solid fuel, a bunker adjacent to the generator terminating at its lower end in a chute leading to the grate, rockable grate bars, a rockshaft mounted in bearings outside the bunker wall, a plurality of push-rods each pivoted to the end of a lever on the rockshaft and each push-rod passing freely through hole in the lower part of the outer b levers and links coupling the bars together and to the steam-operated feed pump means actuated by the fe ing the rockshaft and hereby simultaneously reciprocating the ush-rods and rocking the grate bars, an means for automatically controlling the supply of steam to the pump in accordance with the variations in the level of the water in the generator-as set forth.

13. In apparatus for the control of steam generators the combination of a generator r the generator, pump for rockhaving a grate for burning solid fuel, bunkers adjacent to the generator, each bunker" terminating at its lower end in a chute leading on to the grate, a rockshaft mounted in bearings outside the wall of each bunker, a coupling between the rockshafts, a plurality of push-rods each pivoted to the end of a lever on a rockshaft and each push-rod passing freely through ahole in the lower part of the outer wall of a bunker, and means for rocking the rockshafts as set forth.

14. In apparatus for the control of steam generators the combination of a generator having a grate for burning solid fuel, bunkers adjacent to the generator, each bunker terminating at itslower end in a chute leading on to the grate, a rock-shaft mounted in bearings outside the wall of each bunker. a coupling. between the rockshafts, a plurality of push-rods each pivoted to the end of a lever on a rockshaft and each push rod passing freely through a hole in the lower part of the outer wall of a bunker, and means automatically actuated by the variations in the water level in the generator for controlling the rocking mechanism as set forth.

15. In apparatus for the control of steam generators the combination of a generator operated feed pump for the generator, a

fixed stud on which freely pivots a lever carrying a pawl, a ratchet wheel integral with an eccentric and both freely rotatable on the fixed stud, a connection between a moving part of the pump and the free end of the pivoted lever, an eccentric strap and a connection therefrom to the rock-shaft and means for controlling the supply of steam to the pump as set forth.

16. In apparatus for the control of steam generators the combination of a generator having a grate for burning solid fuel, bunkers adjacent to the generator each bunker terminating at its lower end in a chute leading on to th grate, a rockshaft mounted in bearings outside the wall of each bunker, a coupling between the rockshafts, a pluralityiof push-rods each pivoted to the end of a lever on a rockshaft and each push-rod passing freely through a hole in the lower part of the outer wall of a bunker, a steamoperated feed pump, for the generator, a fixed stud on which freely pivots a lever carrying a pawl, a ratchet wheel integral with an eccentric and both freely rotatable on the fixed stud, a connection between a moving part of the pump and the free end of the pivoted lever, an eccentric strap and a connection therefrom to the rockshaft, and

means for automatically controlling the sup- THOMAS CLARKSON. Witnesses C. E. DUNBAR KILBURN, PERCY Gnonon GATTER. 

